Reticulated Butterfly

[MIKE NY]

This is one fish that should be left in the sea and for those who me know me know I enjoy the challanges of this hobby, which is why I have been keeping a reef for almost 25 years. I have had good success at keeping Leopards, Tamarins and Purple Queens... Andy at AV had gotten in this fish, which are beautiful, and gave me a good deal on it so Im taking the chance...it's strickly a SPS eater, but I have read that when small they may be able to be weaned on to prepared foods...I have it in my fuge where it has been feasting on a diet of my brown outs and cheap frags for the past week. I have been pasting frozen foods into the coralites, but this guy has been eating around it so far and totally ignores anything in the water column like live brine etc... Im going to try some clam on a shell...any other advice....

 

[MIKE NY]

 

[marrone]

I would try worms, using a feeding cup. Also clams and mussels may work. Instead of the brine shrimp try some Cyclop-eeze.

These type of BF are usually hard to get to eat enough food to keep them fat, and they're not that fat to begin with.

 

[cmantis]

Please tell me you know where the hidden stash if cyclop-eeze is!

 

[marrone]

Try http://jehmco.com they sell big packs of it. I actually have one still in my freeze for a couple of year ago. I guess I should use it.

 

[Mattl22]

It's a beautiful fish mike good luck with it!!
I remember a few yrs ago a guy had been tank raising orange spotted file fish and they where eating mysis so I'd say there's hope

 

[ohana888]

purdy...good luck with it...

 

[MIKE NY]

thanks guys..I do have some blood worms that I keep on hand as a treat...Ill give it a try.

 

[piranhapat]

Mike, that's a real beauty. He looks like he only wants your SPS. Sometimes is best to keep to fish that are more adaptable to our tanks. Good luck......

 

[MIKE NY]

Thanks Pat but for the price it was worth a try.
Marrone...thank you! You have given me some hope. It actually tried the worms, but keeps spitting them out. I'm going to try other types like black etc..

 

[Mattl22]

Which worms did u try so far?

 

[MIKE NY]

Hikari frozen blood...going to try live black which should trigger a stronger feeding response...and I use to complain about my large blue tip stag (A.Microphthalma) growing too fast.

 

[Mattl22]

Any luck Mike ?

 

[MIKE NY]

Not really tried live black worms and clam on the half shell. It's looking but not really going after it like the bloodworms. Its still more interested in SPS...

 

[MIKE NY]

I lost it today...just couldn't get it to eat anything else, but SPS. Besides all the foods I offered there were some softies and LPS in with it that it didn't touch either...

 

[Mattl22]

Too bad Mike !!